RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE Meaning and
Definition
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The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve that plays a vital role in innervating the muscles responsible for vocalization in humans and other mammals. It is known as ‘recurrent’ because it takes a circuitous route, traveling downwards and then upward again in order to reach its target muscles.
Originating from the vagus nerve in the neck, the recurrent laryngeal nerve descends into the chest, passing close to the aortic arch on the left side and close to the subclavian artery on the right side. It then makes its way back up, looping around the trachea or esophagus before entering the larynx. This extended and circuitous pathway, which is why it is called ‘recurrent,’ has evolved due to embryological development and is the reason why the nerve is vulnerable to injury or damage during various medical procedures.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve provides nerves to the muscles responsible for vocal cord movement, as well as some sensory fibers that transmit sensory information from these vocal cord muscles to the brain. It controls the fine movements of the larynx, enabling vocalization, swallowing, and protection of the airway during these functions. Damage or injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve can result in vocal cord paralysis, leading to hoarseness or loss of voice, difficulty swallowing, or aspiration pneumonia. Surgeons and medical practitioners must take utmost care to avoid injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgeries or interventions in the neck or chest.
Common Misspellings for RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE
- eecurrent laryngeal nerve
- decurrent laryngeal nerve
- fecurrent laryngeal nerve
- tecurrent laryngeal nerve
- 5ecurrent laryngeal nerve
- 4ecurrent laryngeal nerve
- rwcurrent laryngeal nerve
- rscurrent laryngeal nerve
- rdcurrent laryngeal nerve
- rrcurrent laryngeal nerve
- r4current laryngeal nerve
- r3current laryngeal nerve
- rexurrent laryngeal nerve
- revurrent laryngeal nerve
- refurrent laryngeal nerve
- redurrent laryngeal nerve
- recyrrent laryngeal nerve
- rechrrent laryngeal nerve
- recjrrent laryngeal nerve
- recirrent laryngeal nerve
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